Department of Health and Social Care

Allergies: Health Services

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accessibility of allergy services at primary care level in England.

Lord Kamall: The Government is committed to ensuring that all people with allergies have access to the services they need to manage their condition. The majority of those with allergies can be supported by locally commissioned services, with specialist allergy clinics available for those with more severe or complex allergic conditions.To support healthcare professionals; including those in primary care settings, in the implementation of clear care pathways, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of drug and food allergy in under 19s. The guidance aims to improve diagnosis by offering advice on how to identify allergies and when to refer to secondary or specialist care. A copy of the NICE guidance, ‘Food allergy in under 19s: assessment and diagnosis’ and ‘Drug allergy: diagnosis and management’ is attached.The Royal College of General Practitioners have added allergy training to the new General Practitioner (GP) curriculum (2019) and to support existing GPs they have developed an allergy e-learning resource. Both resources aim to educate GPs about the various symptoms of allergic disease and to ensure that people with allergies can be effectively supported at primary care level.On 27 October the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Allergy published their report ‘Meeting the challenges of the National Allergy Crisis’. The report outlined some of the challenges in both equity of provision and diagnosis in primary care for people living with allergies. A copy of the report is attached. We are working with the APPG and stakeholders alongside NHS England and Improvement to review the recommendations and ensure those living with allergies are appropriately supported.HL3591 (pdf, 155.1KB)HL3591 (pdf, 113.7KB)HL3591 (pdf, 1428.2KB)

Steroid Drugs: Prescriptions

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the volume of long-term community prescribing of mid to high potency topical steroids for (1) children, and (2) adults, in England between 2018 and 2020.

Lord Kamall: The Department has not made an assessment. Decisions about prescribing rest with the general practitioner or other prescriber who has clinical responsibility for that particular aspect of a patient’s care. Prescribing is informed by a range of factors, including any national or local prescribing guidelines but, ultimately, the decision on what to prescribe is made by the prescriber themselves, using their own clinical judgement.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has made recommendations on the prescribing of topical steroids in a number of its clinical guidelines, including those on atopic eczema in those under 12 years of age, psoriasis, and osteoarthritis. It has also published technology appraisals guidance on the frequency of application of topical corticosteroids for atopic eczema.

National Institute for Health Research: Finance

Lord Fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the overall Research and Development funding uplift announced in the Spending Review will go to theNational Institute for Health Research.

Lord Fox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the absolute value of the increased funding that theNational Institute for Health Research will receive over the spending review period.

Lord Kamall: The Spending Review settlement provides £5 billion over the Spending Review period for health-related research and development (R&D). This includes the largest funding received by health R&D, with an increase of £605 million on 2020-21 funding by 2024-25 which means the investment will rise to £2 billion by the end of the Spending Review period.The National Institute for Health Research budget will be finalised as part of a detailed financial planning process. The distribution of capital across health R&D areas will be confirmed before funding is made available in April 2022.

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Carers

Lord Caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to families who are caring for family members suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Lord Kamall: For patients with rare diseases such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, expert centres provide clinical guidance, support and advice to patients, their families and carers. The NHS Long Term Plan set out ambitions to improve the identification and support of unpaid carers. These ambitions include providing timely information and support for contingency planning; developing more integrated support systems within primary care; support for young carers; and work to ensure that carers from frequently excluded communities are engaged and enabled to use services.

Embryos

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Kamall on 2 November 2021 (HL3362), what assessment they have made of the fact that only 24 patients have been licensed as eligible for mitochondrial donation treatment in the UK.

Lord Kamall: The Department has not made any assessments of the fact that only 24 patients have been licensed as eligible for mitochondrial donation treatment in the United Kingdom.The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 requires the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to approve applications for mitochondrial donation treatment on a case-by-case basis, with reference to the statutory tests and the particular circumstances of the patient.All applications considered by the HFEA’s Statutory Approvals Committee for mitochondrial donation treatment to 31 October 2021 have been approved.

Rare Diseases: Health Services

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the 2013 UK Strategy for Rare Diseases.

Lord Kamall: There has been no standalone assessment of the United Kingdom Strategy for Rare Diseases. However, two UK-wide reports, published by the UK Rare Diseases Forum in 2016, and the UK Rare Disease Policy Board in 2018, have assessed aspects of progress on the strategy’s key themes: empowering those affected by rare diseases, identifying and preventing rare diseases, diagnosis and early intervention, coordination of care and the role of research.These reports highlighted progress such as the success of the 100,000 Genomes project in helping to address the lack of diagnosis for many rare disease patients, and the launch and continued development of the Genomics Education Programme by Health Education England. A copy of both the Forum and Policy Board reports is attached. These reports were followed in 2019 by the National Conversation on Rare Diseases, a survey which helped identify the major barriers and challenges faced by those living and working with rare disease, and which formed the basis of the 2021 UK Rare Diseases Framework.HL3181 (pdf, 833.6KB)HL3181 (pdf, 956.2KB)

Telemedicine: Coronavirus

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for video communication technology to assist with the backlog of healthcare appointments that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Kamall: The National Health Service (NHS) is helping people to access healthcare services both face to face and virtually, via video and telephone consultations. NHS England and NHS Improvement are monitoring the use of virtual consultations as part of the National Outpatients Transformation Programme. There have been over 29 million virtual consultations since April 2020, protecting access to services and reducing the need for extra Personal Protective Equipment in hospital outpatient clinics. Virtual consultations are a key part of modern outpatient services, making up almost a quarter of all outpatient appointments.General Practice teams are using triage and virtual consultations to minimise COVID-19 infection risks and manage demand by navigating patients to the right services. Virtual consultations remain an important part of the NHS’s plans for recovering elective services.

HeadUp: Contracts

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the criteria for selecting HeadUp Systems to provide (1) data science, and (2) health technology, for the Health Incentives Scheme.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an open procurement process was carried out to select HeadUp Systems to deliver (1) data science, and (2) health technology services, for the Health Incentives Scheme; and if so, (a) when the process was started, and (b) when the contract was awarded.

Lord Kamall: The Department launched an open tender process on 7 July 2021 to appoint a provider to deliver the Health Incentives pilot. The tender was open for 40 days, closing on 16 August. Bidders were notified of the tender outcome on 27 September and the contract was awarded on 8 October, following a 10-day standstill period.Bids were assessed against the Selection, Award and Evaluation Guidance for the quality, price and social value of their bid. A copy of the Guidance is attached. Quality, price, and social value were weighted and scored individually for each bid before being combined into a consolidated score. In line with the open procurement procedure, the contract was awarded to HeadUp Systems Ltd as the bidder with the highest consolidated score.DHSC Attachment (docx, 150.1KB)

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Health Services

Lord Caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what specialist care and treatments are currently available through the NHS for people suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Lord Caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to expand the provision of specialist NHS care and treatment for people suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Lord Kamall: There is no specific prescribed service for treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). However, children with FOP are cared for by National Health Service paediatric rheumatologists and/or geneticists with input from other clinicians as required.New medicines and treatments for ultra-rare diseases such as FOP are considered via highly specialised technology (HST) evaluations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE is currently developing HST guidance on palovarotene for preventing heterotopic ossification associated with FOP.The UK Rare Diseases Framework, published in 2021, outlined four key priorities to improve the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as FOP, including improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. Action plans to improve access to care and treatment will be published by each of the four United Kingdom nations within two years. A copy of the Framework is attached.The UK Rare Diseases Framework  (pdf, 279.1KB)

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Research

Lord Caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase research funding in order to find more effective treatments and a cure for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Lord Kamall: The Department funds research into rare diseases such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). In the past five years, the Department has provided funding to support eight studies into FOP through the NIHR. Within the NIHR, for all disease areas, the amount of funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity and the usual practice is not to ring-fence funds for particular topics.The UK Rare Diseases Framework, published in January 2021, outlined a vision for improving the lives of those with rare diseases, such as FOP, including a focus on pioneering research. Action plans setting out further details on this research will be published by each of the four United Kingdom nations within two years. A copy of the Framework is attached.The UK Rare Diseases Framework (pdf, 279.1KB)

Lung Diseases: Health Services

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop a respiratory services recovery plan to restorehealthcare services for patients with lung disease where diagnostics are now (1) back to, or (2) above, pre-pandemic levels.

Lord Kamall: The 2021/22 Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance priorities for NHS England and NHS Improvement includes tackling the backlog for non-urgent treatment, such as services for lung disease patients. This aims to stabilise total waiting lists, eliminate waiting times of two years or more and the increase in waiting times of more than one year. We have made available £1.5 billion to assist local teams increase their capacity and invest in other measures to achieve these priorities.The Spending Review 2021 announced £2.3 billion to increase the volume of diagnostic activity and open community diagnostic centres to provide more clinical tests, including for patients with lung disease.

Embryos

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 11 February 2020 (HL1173), how many human embryos were (1) deliberately destroyed, and (2) transferred to uteri to establish pregnancies, in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many human embryos have been (a) deliberately destroyed, and (b) transferred to uteri since such procedures were made legal.

Lord Kamall: The following table shows the number of embryos discarded and transferred to uteri to establish pregnancies from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. The data is the latest information available and as shown on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s (HFEA) register database on 27 August 2021. MonthEmbryos discardedEmbryos transferredJanuary 201912,0045,109February 201915,7317,074March 201916,7407,324April 201915,1376,503May 201914,5816,456June 201913,3266,119July 201914,8936,496August 201914,9386,739September 201913,8956,149October 201915,2256,889November 201916,7657,434December 20199,6804,135Total 2019172,91576,427Source: HFEA The following table shows the cumulative figures for how many human embryos have been discarded and transferred to uteri from 1 August 1991 to 31 December 2019. The figures include additional validated data from previous years.Total number of embryos discarded3,106,319Total number of embryos transferred2,056,449Source: HFEA

Influenza: Vaccination

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for regional delays in eligible individuals (1) being invited for an influenza vaccine at their GP practice, and (2) being able to book an influenza vaccine at a local pharmacy.

Lord Kamall: No assessment has been made as stock is ordered and managed locally by providers. General practitioner practices and local pharmacies manage appointment bookings according to their supply of stock.

Department for Education

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce compulsory teaching for Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) once per week in schools.

Baroness Barran: The government does not specify how schools should allocate their time to deliver the curriculum. School managers will need to design their timetables to meet the requirements of all parts of the statutory curriculum and their other duties with regard to the wider school curriculum.Since September 2020, it has been compulsory for schools to teach relationships education (for primary school-aged pupils), relationships and sex education (for secondary school-aged pupils) and health education (for all pupils in state-funded schools). The department knows that many schools choose to teach some of the new content from the new curriculum in their personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) (or similarly described) programme for their pupils. Teachers are encouraged to develop their practice in a way that meets the specific needs of their pupils.

T-levels

Lord Baker of Dorking: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many students were studying T Levels in the academic years beginning in (1) 2020, and (2) 2021.

Baroness Barran: Data from the Individualised Learner Record and School Census suggests that the number of students taking T Levels in the 2020/21 academic year was around 1,300. The department does not yet have confirmed student numbers for the 2021/22 cohort, but providers report that recruitment levels are positive. We expect to publish indicative student numbers for the 2021/22 academic year before the end of this year.The department are introducing T Levels in a phased approach. The number of providers and courses will increase year on year, and we expect student numbers to grow significantly in line with the rollout. This managed introduction has meant T Levels got off to a high-quality start in 2020. Feedback from both providers and students has been positive.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Ethiopia: Human Rights

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged violations of human rights in Tigray, published on 3 November; what implications the findings will have on the UK’s Overseas Development Assistance funding to Ethiopia; and what steps they will take, if any, to support (1) internally displaced persons, and (2) refugees.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK strongly supported a resolution at the June session of the Human Rights Council backing that investigation and ensuring that its report and its findings will be debated by the Human Rights Council.The report by the joint UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ethiopian Human Rights Commission investigation, published on 3 November, concludes that "There are reasonable grounds to believe that all parties to the conflict have violated the rights of refugees as stipulated under international human rights law, humanitarian law, refugee law, and national laws. Such acts warrant further investigation and may amount to war crimes". It is essential that all those responsible for violations of human rights, refugee and international humanitarian law are held to account.The UK is a major humanitarian and development donor to Ethiopia with Ethiopia one of the largest recipients of UK Overseas Development Assistance. We keep this relationship under review and will take action to adjust our engagement as necessary as the operating context changes.Within Tigray approximately 2 million people have been displaced by the ongoing violence with Eritrean refugees also impacted and in some cases directly targeted by belligerents. Humanitarian operations in Tigray have come to a standstill owing to the de facto blockade imposed by the federal government since late June. Prior to the blockade UK funded partners were working in the most challenging circumstances to provide life-saving assistance to displaced persons, refugees and others.

Ethiopia: Human Rights

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation of the Tigrayan minority in Ethiopia; and reports of human rights abuses of that community in (1) Addis Ababa, and (2) other cities outside Tigray.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are extremely concerned by reports of widespread human rights violations and abuses in Ethiopia against the Tigrayan minority including in Addis Ababa and outside of Tigray. The Minister for Africa spoke at a Westminster Hall Debate on 3 November and highlighted the horrific scale and nature of human rights abuses against civilians in Tigray as reported by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is essential that all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses be held to account. All parties must implement the recommendations and ensure that victims have access to support.The Foreign Secretary, our Ambassador in Addis Ababa and the Minister for Africa continue to raise human rights issues in our discussions with the Ethiopian Government and more broadly we have reminded all warring parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Ethiopia: Armed Conflict

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the escalating military conflict in Ethiopia, and (2) the introduction of a state of emergency in that country.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is deeply concerned about the escalating military conflict in Ethiopia. The Minister for Africa spoke at a Westminster Hall Debate on 3 November about how the conflict has created a humanitarian catastrophe and seen horrific human rights abuses committed against civilians. She called for all parties to immediately agree to stop fighting and open dialogue. She said that the advance of Tigrayan forces must stop and they should not enter Addis Ababa.On 9 November the FCDO updated it's Travel Advice to British nationals, advising them against all travel to Ethiopia, with the exception of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, where the advice is against all but essential travel. British nationals have been advised to leave Ethiopia while commercial routes are available.Following the declaration of a State of Emergency in Ethiopia on 2 November, the Minister for Africa issued a tweet and called again on all parties to urgently cease fighting and start talks. It is important that the State of Emergency does not undermine basic human rights and international humanitarian law, for which the Government of Ethiopia is responsible.

Afghanistan: Journalism

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the violence towards journalists in Afghanistan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are deeply concerned about human rights in Afghanistan and are tracking the situation closely, including violence towards journalists. We are concerned by reports of targeting of journalists, restrictions on the media and self-censorship. We will continue to work closely with international partners to call for freedom of the media to be respected in Afghanistan, to respond to violations and abuses and to push for those responsible to be held to account.

Libya: Elections

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide assistance to the government of Libya to manage a (1) peaceful, and (2) transparent, election process in the lead-up to the presidential elections scheduled for December.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Free, fair and inclusive Parliamentary and Presidential elections on 24 December 2021, including women's full, equal and meaningful participation, is one of the top priorities for the UK in Libya. They are captured in UK-drafted UN Security Council Resolution 2570, and in the communiqué agreed by the Berlin II Conference on 24 June. The UK is working with international and Libyan partners, including the interim Government of National Unity, to pursue these priorities, restoring Libya's sovereignty and putting the country on a path to sustained peace, security and prosperity. We have spent £1.4 million to support the long-term delivery of credible elections, through building the capacity of the Libyan local and national electoral commissions, and £347,000 on increasing women's engagement in the electoral process.

Iraq: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the current political situation in Iraq, and (2) the progress towards forming a new government of that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We applaud the efforts of Prime Minister Kadhimi and the Independent High Electoral Commission to run smooth elections with unprecedented support from the UN. The technical processes show a clear improvement on previous elections, and the lack of any major security incidents is testament to the hard work of the security forces. We call on all parties to respect the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.

Afghanistan

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure (1) the safety ofjournalists in Afghanistan, and (2) the safe passage of those wishing to leave that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: It remains a top priority to help those British nationals and those Afghans eligible to come to the UK to leave Afghanistan, including journalists. Since the end of the military evacuation, the Government has facilitated the departure of both Afghan and British nationals from Afghanistan. Although travel within Afghanistan remains dangerous, and many border crossings have been closed during this period, we have also helped both British nationals and eligible Afghans when they have crossed into third countries, from where our diplomatic missions have been able to support their onward travel to the UK. We will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK to leave Afghanistan.

North Korea: Malnutrition

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the levels of malnutrition and hunger in North Korea, and (2) the order by the government of North Korea to their people that they must eat less food until 2025.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is concerned that humanitarian needs may be growing in North Korea. According to UN figures, 40% of North Korea's population were food insecure in 2019. Since 28 January 2020, restrictions on internal movement, including for UN agencies and NGOs, have severely impacted the distribution of aid and support, and resulted in the departure of most of the international community. We encourage North Korea to allow entry for humanitarian workers to carry out an independent assessment of humanitarian needs, and to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities.

Israel: Palestinians

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding settler violence against Palestinians and their property in October.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. The UK regularly raises the issue of settler violence with the Government of Israel, most recently with Israel's Ministry of Defense on 19 October. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to investigate thoroughly every instance to bring those responsible to justice. We also continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire.

Dayton

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Dayton Agreement of 1995 is upheld.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: As a signatory of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), which ended the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the 1990s, and a member of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), the UK is fully committed to upholding the GFAP and the international architecture it created. This includes the Office of the High Representative (OHR), and the EU's stabilisation force (EUFOR), which have helped to maintain peace and stability in BiH for the last 26 years. We recognise that the political situation in BiH holds real prospect of further division, which makes the presence of EUFOR and the OHR as important as ever. In the UN Security Council in recent weeks, we helped to renew EUFOR's mandate for a further 12 months, and supported the High Representative.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Peace Negotiations

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will to take to ensure peace and the upholding of international law in Bosnia-Herzegovina through discussions with (1) the United Nations, and (2) NATO.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK remains committed to ensuring peace, and upholding international law in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). In the UN Security Council in recent weeks, we helped renew the EU's stabilisation force's (EUFOR's) mandate for a further 12 months, and supported the High Representative. The High Representative has an essential role in securing and maintaining lasting peace in BiH, and has the UK's full support, including for the use of executive powers should the situation require. The UK liaises closely with the EUFOR commander and his team on their vital work to ensure a safe and secure environment in BiH. We also support the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, including though the secondment of UK staff officers, who are building the capacity of the BiH Armed Forces. The UK rejects efforts to undermine BiH's stability, and will continue to support BiH in implementing domestic reforms and tackling challenges to peace and security. Further discussions of how to support stability in BiH will take place at the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Riga, which the Foreign Secretary will attend.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Peace Negotiations

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the High Representative for Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina about his 60th report to the United Nations Secretary-General.

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the latest report of the High Representative for Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina and his conclusions that violations of the peace agreement have taken place; and what steps they intend to take in response to that finding.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is in close contact with the High Representative (HiRep), including about his report to the United Nations Secretary General. The HiRep's report paints a worrying picture of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). We heed his warning that BiH is facing the greatest existential threat of its post-war period, and that there is a real prospect for further division and conflict. Along with our international partners, we are working to tackle the divisive rhetoric and actions from some politicians in BiH, including the threats to re-establish a Republika Srpska army and to pull out of other established state-level institutions. Such an approach puts at risk 26 years of hard-won progress, endangers the peace and stability of the country and the region, and undermines the Dayton Peace Agreement. Although the HiRep did not brief the Security Council this month, his report was circulated to Council members. We fully support his right to address the Council, and look forward to welcoming him to the Council in future meetings. We also look forward to engaging further with the HiRep when he visits London in December.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Lord Shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an equality impact assessment was completed prior to the removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift; and if so, what reference this had to disabled people.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department has not completed an equality impact assessment of the removal of the Universal Credit temporary uplift as it was introduced as a temporary measure. The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22. There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work. Through our existing programmes such as Work and Health Programme and the Intensive Employment Support Programme we are keen to see disabled people progress in work. Over the last 8 years the number of disabled people in employment has increased by 1.5m.

Formaldehyde: Industrial Health and Safety

Baroness Crawley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 5 August 2019 (HL17390), whether they implemented the EU’s occupational exposure limit value for Formaldehyde of 0.3ppm (parts per million); and if not, what is the limit on exposure in the UK.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Following the UK’s exit from the EU, and the end of the Transition Period (TP), the UK is no longer involved in the EU limit-setting regime. The EU’s revised binding occupational exposure limit for Formaldehyde had an implementation date of 11 July 2021, with an extended transition period to 11 July 2024 for the healthcare, funeral, and embalming sector in the UK. As the date of implementation falls after the end of the Transition Period, there is no legal obligation for the UK to align with the revised EU limits, and this includes the revised limit for Formaldehyde. The current Great Britain (GB) Workplace Exposure Limit for Formaldehyde remains 2ppm, which is the previously agreed limit. However, the Health and Safety Executive is currently considering a long-term delivery model for setting workplace exposure limits in GB ensuring any limits introduced will be achievable, feasible and protective of health. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is responsible for developing a system for Northern Ireland. There is a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place in GB to protect workers from health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace through the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Under COSHH, exposure to carcinogens, (as well as mutagens and asthmagens) should be reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable.

Employment Schemes: Disability and Young People

Lord Shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what evaluation they have made of their supported employment schemes and employment support programmes for (1) disabled people, and (2) young people, since February 2020.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department for Work and Pensions’ two main employment support programmes for disabled people are the Work and Health Programme (WHP) and Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES). Both programmes are subject to ongoing evaluation to capture a full range of employment, health and wellbeing outcomes for programme participants. Alongside these employment schemes, DWP continues to evaluate labour market interventions targeted at disabled people and those with health conditions, including:Group Work: A trial of JOBS II, a 20-hour specialised job-search skills training course. An evaluation of the trial was published in July 2021: An evaluation of the Group Work (JOBS II) trial - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Employment Advisors (EAs) in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT): this initiative provides combined psychological support and employment advice to enable IAPT clients to stay in or take up work. An initial process evaluation was published in 2019: Employment Advisers in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: process evaluation report (publishing.service.gov.uk)The Health-led trials: testing whether the provision of Individual Placement Support (IPS) to people with physical and/or mild to moderate mental health conditions in Sheffield City Region (SCR) and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) makes a difference to health and employment outcomes. Individual Placement and Support is a specific version of supported employment and evaluation is ongoing. The Plan for Jobs includes specific support for young people, including Kickstart, which funds the direct creation of jobs for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. The Department for Work and Pensions will be monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart scheme, alongside the wider DWP Youth Offer, throughout and after implementation.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Environmental Land Management Scheme: Public Footpaths

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply byLord Benyon on 27 May (HL Deb., col. 1097), when they will publish details of how new environmental land management schemes will increase access to footpaths.

Lord Benyon: Footpath networks are of high importance when considering how the public can access and enjoy the treasured landscapes.Clear arrangements are already in place through the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to allow for the establishment, recording and appeal of rights of way to agreed standards, and local authorities hold the responsibility for their maintenance. Local authorities are required to keep a Rights of Way Improvement Plan to plan improvements to the existing rights of way network in their area.Local Access Forums (LAF) advise local authorities and other organisations about making improvements to public access for outdoor recreation and sustainable travel. LAFs can set their own priorities depending on local issues, so engagement is typically with their local authority rather than central government.Additionally, access to rivers and other waterways is managed by navigation authorities.The Agricultural Transition Plan was published in November 2020 and the Government published an update in June 2021. Further information on the Environmental Land Management Schemes will be published later this year.

Pigs: Slaughterhouses

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many pigs have been culled as a result of the shortage of slaughterhouse staff; and what has been the take-up to date of the extended seasonal workers scheme, due to end on 31 December.

Lord Benyon: Defra has been working closely with pig producers and the processing sector in recent months. We are very conscious of the impact that the culling of animals on farm has on individual pig farmers. We announced a series of measures on 14 October that will support the pig sector and help address the current challenges it is facing. These include allowing up to 800 pork butchers to apply for a six-month working visa to the UK, a suspension on the statutory levy for pig farmers and producers during November 2021, and a private storage aid scheme which will enable meat processors to store slaughtered pigs for three to six months so that they can be preserved safely and processed at a later date. Defra does not collect data on the number of pigs culled on farms. Producers, who are responsible for the welfare of animals on farm, are also not required to submit such data to us. However, from our engagement with the pig sector, we understand that around 7800 pigs have been culled on farms as a result of the shortage of workers in slaughterhouses. This is largely due to the backlog of pigs on farm caused by a unique combination of factors including shortages of labour in the processing sector, disruption to the export market and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government has announced that up to 5500 poultry workers and 5000 HGV drivers transporting food and fuel will be able to enter the UK for work in the lead up to Christmas 2021. HGV drivers entering under the temporary visa scheme will be able to stay in the UK up to 28 February 2022 and poultry workers up to 31 December 2021. In addition, up to 800 temporary pig butchers will be able to enter the UK to work for six months from the point of issue of the visa. The temporary visa scheme for poultry and HGV workers has now opened and scheme operators are working directly with the sector. Industry interest and engagement has been positive.

Environmental Land Management Scheme: Public Footpaths

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply byLord Benyon on 27 May (HL Deb., col. 1098), what assessment they have made of the role of (1) Local Access Forums, and (2) Rights of Way Improvement plans, in helping to identify deficiencies in the footpath network that could be addressed through environmental land management schemes.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether financial assistance provided to farmers and land managers through environmental land management schemes will be conditional on recipients fulfilling legal obligations on a similar basis to the existing cross compliance rules; and if so, whether such obligations will include keeping existing rights of way open and accessible.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply byLord Gardiner of Kimble on 7 July 2020 (HL Deb., col. 1102), when they will publish details outlining the ways in which new environmental land management schemes will deliver improvements in public access to (1) water bodies, and (2) waterways.

Lord Benyon: Footpath networks are of high importance when considering how the public can access and enjoy the treasured landscapes.Clear arrangements are already in place through the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to allow for the establishment, recording and appeal of rights of way to agreed standards, and local authorities hold the responsibility for their maintenance. Local authorities are required to keep a Rights of Way Improvement Plan to plan improvements to the existing rights of way network in their area.Local Access Forums (LAF) advise local authorities and other organisations about making improvements to public access for outdoor recreation and sustainable travel. LAFs can set their own priorities depending on local issues, so engagement is typically with their local authority rather than central government.Additionally, access to rivers and other waterways is managed by navigation authorities.The Agricultural Transition Plan was published in November 2020 and the Government published an update in June 2021. Further information on the Environmental Land Management Schemes will be published later this year.

Home Office

Visas: Social Services

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for granting fast-track visas for carers in order to relieve the shortage of workers caring for disabled people in the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The introduction of the Health and Care visa in August 2020 made it quicker and cheaper for regulated health and care professionals – including Senior Care Workers - and their dependents to secure their visa.In July, we commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the impact of ending free movement on the adult social care sector. The MAC have issued a call for evidence with stakeholders and we look forward to receiving their report in April 2022.

Employment: Graduates

Lord Green of Deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Migration Advisory CommitteeImpact of International Students in the UK,published in September 2018, and in particular the conclusion that "it is likely that those whowould benefit from a longer period to find a graduate level job are not the most highly skilled".

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government strongly wishes to attract international students to study in the UK. They enhance our educational institutions both financially and culturally; they enrich the experience of domestic students; and they can become important ambassadors for the United Kingdom in later life. The Graduate route significantly enhances our offer to international students and the attractiveness of the UK as a world-leading destination for higher education.The Government at the time, set out its response to the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee. However, following the UK’s exit from the EU and the launch of our new points-based system, the introduction of the Graduate route demonstrates our global outlook and support for the UK’s education sector. The route will also help us realise our ambition, as set out in the International Education Strategy, to increase UK education exports to £35 billion and the number of international higher education students to 600,000 by 2030.This Government has set out its assessment of the impact of the route. This can be found on the gov.uk website or through the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1248-4-march-2021

Cabinet Office

Jeremy Farrar

Viscount Stansgate: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of Sir Jeremy Farrar not to participate in subsequent meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.

Lord True: We can confirm that Sir Jeremy has stood down from the Covid SAGE activation. SAGE continues to provide the Government with independent expert scientific and technical advice.

Treasury

Employment Allowance: Small Businesses

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the small business employment allowance to support smaller employers seeking to expand.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Since 2014, businesses and charities throughout the UK have been able to claim the Employment Allowance (EA) and reduce their employer National Insurance contributions bills every year. In April 2020, the Government increased the EA from £3,000 to £4,000 and focused the relief on helping smaller businesses take on extra staff, fulfil their potential, and boost employment. This built on an increase from £2,000 to £3,000 in 2016, meaning the value of the support offered to smaller businesses through the EA doubled in four years. Over 1 million employers benefitted from this relief in 2020-21. The Government currently has no plans to increase the EA.

Cost of Living: Northern Ireland

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive on theimpact of the Barnett formula on the cost of living in Northern Ireland.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has regular engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive Finance Minister, most recently on the day of the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021. The Barnett formula is a key part of the arrangements for pooling and sharing risks and resources across the UK. It means that a downturn in one area can be supported by other areas, rather than being dependent on local economic conditions – and a windfall can be shared with other areas. As a result of SR21, the Northern Ireland Executive will receive an average of £1.6bn per year additional funding on top of an annual baseline of £13.4bn. These are the largest annual block grants, in real terms, of any spending review settlement since the devolution Acts in 1998.

Air Passenger Duty

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the calculation for the increased passenger duty on long-haul flights will be made on theshortest distance between the UK and the intended destination, or the route to be taken by the airline concerned.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Distance bands within Air Passenger Duty are based on the distance from London to the destination country’s capital city. Distance to a country's capital city is used as a straightforward proxy for distance to that country, making it as easy as possible to administer the tax – as well as improving transparency for the end consumer.

Air Passenger Duty: Carbon Emissions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of removing air passenger duty on the UK's carbon emissions.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Aviation accounts for around 8% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. International aviation is responsible for the vast majority of this contribution and accounted for 37 MtCO2e in 2019, whereas domestic aviation was responsible for 1.5 MtCO2e – equivalent to less than 1% of the UK’s total emissions in 2019. At Budget, the Government announced that, from April 2023, it will introduce a new reduced domestic band of Air Passenger Duty (APD), covering flights between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in order to support connectivity across the UK. In addition, the Government will introduce a new ultra long-haul band, which will ensure that those who fly furthest, and have the greatest environmental impact, will pay the most.

COP26

Climate Change: Vatican

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial commitment towards the £100 billionn climate fund target for COP26 has been made by the Vatican City State.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Vatican City State does not make financial contributions to the $100 billion goal as the Holy See is an observer state and so is not a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.